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| Nigeria's Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine pardoned by president 30 years after executions | Nigeria's Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine pardoned by president 30 years after executions |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The secret militrial trial of Ken Saro-Wiwa was widely seen as a sham | The secret militrial trial of Ken Saro-Wiwa was widely seen as a sham |
| Nigeria's president has pardoned the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, 30 years after his execution sparked global outrage. | Nigeria's president has pardoned the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, 30 years after his execution sparked global outrage. |
| Along with eight other campaigners, Mr Saro-Wiwa was convicted of murder, then hanged in 1995 by the then-military regime. | Along with eight other campaigners, Mr Saro-Wiwa was convicted of murder, then hanged in 1995 by the then-military regime. |
| Many believed the activists were being punished for leading protests against the operations of oil multinationals, particularly Shell, in Nigeria's Ogoniland. Shell has long denied any involvement in the executions. | Many believed the activists were being punished for leading protests against the operations of oil multinationals, particularly Shell, in Nigeria's Ogoniland. Shell has long denied any involvement in the executions. |
| Though the pardons have been welcomed, some activists and relatives say they do not go far enough. | Though the pardons have been welcomed, some activists and relatives say they do not go far enough. |
| As well as issuing the pardons on Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu bestowed national honours on Mr Saro-Wiwa and his fellow campaigners, who were known as the Ogoni Nine. | As well as issuing the pardons on Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu bestowed national honours on Mr Saro-Wiwa and his fellow campaigners, who were known as the Ogoni Nine. |
| The nine men - Mr Saro-Wiwa, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Felix Nuate, Paul Levula, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo and Daniel Gbokoo - were among dozens who received the honours as part of Nigeria's annual Democracy Day. | The nine men - Mr Saro-Wiwa, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Felix Nuate, Paul Levula, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo and Daniel Gbokoo - were among dozens who received the honours as part of Nigeria's annual Democracy Day. |
| The Nigerian woman cleaning up a land soaked in oil | The Nigerian woman cleaning up a land soaked in oil |
| Oil clean-up 'scam' warnings ignored by Shell, whistleblower tells BBC | Oil clean-up 'scam' warnings ignored by Shell, whistleblower tells BBC |
| Tinubu said the accolades recognised "heroes" who had made "outstanding contributions " to the nation's democracy. | Tinubu said the accolades recognised "heroes" who had made "outstanding contributions " to the nation's democracy. |
| Responding to the pardons for the Ogoni Nine, campaign groups said they would like the government to take further steps. | |
| The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop), which was formerly led by Mr Saro-Wiwa, called the pardon a "courageous act". | |
| However, Mosop also said that the pardon implies wrongdoing, while in reality "no crime ever took place". | |
| Barinem Kiobel's widow expressed her gratitude to Tinubu for the national honour, but called on the president to "properly declare [her] husband and his compatriots innocent" because a "pardon is not granted to the innocent". | |
| Likewise, Amnesty International said clemency falls "far short of the justice the Ogoni Nine need". | |
| More must be done to hold oil companies to account for environmental damage currently occurring in Nigeria, the organisation added. | |
| Mr Saro-Wiwa, who was one of Nigeria's leading authors, led the Ogoni people in peaceful demonstrations against Shell and other oil companies. | |
| Mosop accused the multinational company of polluting the land that locals relied on for their livelihoods. | Mosop accused the multinational company of polluting the land that locals relied on for their livelihoods. |
| The Nigerian government responded by brutally cracking down on the protesters. The Ogoni Nine were subsequently found guilty by a secret military tribunal of the murder of four Ogoni chiefs. | The Nigerian government responded by brutally cracking down on the protesters. The Ogoni Nine were subsequently found guilty by a secret military tribunal of the murder of four Ogoni chiefs. |
| Their execution sparked outrage within the international community. It was widely condemned as extrajudicial murder and became a global symbol of the struggle against environmental injustice and repression. | Their execution sparked outrage within the international community. It was widely condemned as extrajudicial murder and became a global symbol of the struggle against environmental injustice and repression. |
| Nigeria was consequently suspended from the Commonwealth group of nations. | Nigeria was consequently suspended from the Commonwealth group of nations. |
| Since then, Shell has faced various lawsuits over oil spills and environmental damage in the Niger Delta, the southern region that Ogoniland is a part of. | Since then, Shell has faced various lawsuits over oil spills and environmental damage in the Niger Delta, the southern region that Ogoniland is a part of. |
| In 2021 a Dutch court ordered Shell to compensate farmers for spills that contaminated swathes of farmland and fishing waters in the Niger Delta. The company agreed to pay more than a hundred million dollars. | In 2021 a Dutch court ordered Shell to compensate farmers for spills that contaminated swathes of farmland and fishing waters in the Niger Delta. The company agreed to pay more than a hundred million dollars. |
| Earlier this year, lawyers representing two Ogoniland communities argued in London's High Court that Shell must take responsibility for oil pollution that occurred between 1989 and 2020. | Earlier this year, lawyers representing two Ogoniland communities argued in London's High Court that Shell must take responsibility for oil pollution that occurred between 1989 and 2020. |
| Shell denies wrongdoing and says spills in the region have been caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining for which the company says it is not liable. | Shell denies wrongdoing and says spills in the region have been caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining for which the company says it is not liable. |
| The case's full trial is set for 2026. | The case's full trial is set for 2026. |
| Additional reporting by Chris Ewokor | Additional reporting by Chris Ewokor |
| More BBC stories about Nigeria: | More BBC stories about Nigeria: |
| Nigeria's stolen oil, the military and a man named Government | Nigeria's stolen oil, the military and a man named Government |
| Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians | Should I stay or should I go? The dilemma for young Nigerians |
| Culture and colour come out in praise of a Nigerian king | Culture and colour come out in praise of a Nigerian king |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |